noun
anniversary of a person's death
A formal term used in Buddhist contexts to refer to the exact date of a person's death, observed annually. Often used in memorial services.
来月は祖母の祥月命日なので、お墓参りに行くつもりです。
Next month is the anniversary of my grandmother's death, so I plan to visit her grave.
命日 is a more common and general term for the anniversary of a death. 祥月命日 specifically emphasizes the exact monthly date and is more formal, often used in Buddhist memorial contexts.
忌日 also means death anniversary but can refer to the day of mourning or memorial. 祥月命日 is more precise about the calendar date.
A yojijukugo composed of 祥 (auspicious, good omen), 月 (month), 命 (life, fate), and 日 (day). The term originates from Buddhist tradition, where the anniversary of a death is observed with ceremonies. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination emphasizes the recurring monthly date of the person's passing.